Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2010-11: Vaclav Karabacek skated for the HC Letnany U16 team in his native Czech Republic. In 22 games he scored 18 goals with 12 assists and was +2 with 8 penalty minutes.

2011-12: Karabacek played for HC Letany’s U18 and U16 teams and competed internationally for the Czech Republic’s national U16 team. He scored 15 goals with 14 assists and was +8 with 18 penalty minutes in 25 games for HC Letany’s U18 team. Karabacek scored 61 goals with 43 assists and was +67 with 70 penalty minutes in 32 U18 games. He scored 3 goals with 1 assist and was -1 in ten games for the Czech U16 team.

2012-13: Karabacek moved to Austria to play junior hockey for EC Salzburg in the Red Bull Rookie Cup; skating for the club’s U20 and U18 teams. He scored 2 goals with 1 assist and had 2 penalty minutes in five games with the U20 squad. Karabacek scored 26 goals with 19 assists and had 55 penalty minutes in 21 games for EC Salzburg’s U18 team. He skated in 19 games for the Czech Republic at the U18 and U17 levels — scoring 5 goals with 7 assists and finishing +1 with 30 penalty minutes — but did not skate in the U18 World Junior Championship. Karabacek was selected by Medvescak-Zagreb in the first round (36th overall) of the 2013 KHL Draft and was taken by Gatineau in the first round (18th overall) of the 2013 CHL Import Draft.

2013-14: Karabacek competed for the Czech Republic’s U18 team in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August before heading to North America for his first QMJHL season in Gatineau. He finished the season with the silver medal-winning Czech U18 squad at the 2014 World Juniors. Karabacek fit in well with the high-scoring Olympiques – tallying 21 goals with 26 assists in 65 regular season games — and was +4 with with 40 penalty minutes. Gatineau finished fourthin the West Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Karabacek scored 6 goals with 6 assists and was +11 with 10 penalty minutes in nine playoff games. He had 2 assists and was -1 with 2 penalty minutes in four games for the Czech U18 team at the Ivan Hlinka tournament and scored 3 goals with 3 assists and was +4 with 4 penalty minutes at the WJC. The Czech Republic defeated Canada, 4-3, in the semifinals before falling to the USA, 5-2, in the gold medal game. Karabacek was ranked 35th amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings and was selected by Buffalo in the second round (49th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft.

2014-15: Karabacek returned to Gatineau for his second QMJHL season — skating in 31 games for the Olympiques before being acquired by Baie-Comeau in exchange for Kings’ prospect Valentin Zykov in a trade deadline deal in January 2015. In 59 regular season games between the two teams he scored 17 goals with 23 assists and was -6 with 62 penalty minutes. The Drakkar finished fourth in the powerful East Division and advanced to the second round in the playoffs. Karabacek scored 4 goals with 7 assists and had an even plus/minus with 14 penalty minutes in 12 playoff games.

Talent Analysis

Karabacek is a pure goal-scorer who excels at finding the open spots in the offensive zone and bulging the twine. Though not a dynamic skater he uses his frame to protect the puck and get into position to make a play. He has worked, with mixed results, to round out his game.

Future

Karabacek attended his second training camp with the Sabres before being assigned to Baie-Comeau to start the 2015-16 season. In his third QMJHL season, he was once again involved in a mid-season trade — going from the rebuilding Drakkar to the Moncton Wildcats. Yet to sign an entry-level contract with Buffalo, the 2014 second-round pick would re-enter the 2016 draft if not signed before then. His mobility and willingness to work
suggest some potential as a two-way forward.

Photo: Buffalo Sabres prospect Daniel Catenacci had his first stint in the NHL this season, playing 11 games. He had 24 points in 50 games with Rochester of the AHL. (courtesy Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Looking back at the 2010-11 season for the Buffalo Sabres, it almost seems like an entire era ago. The team not only made the playoffs, but they finished second in the then-Northeast Division with 96 points, sporting a 43-29-10 record.

Photo: Just six months after he debuted at #1 of the Sabres top 20, super-rookie Jack Eichel is games away from graduating from Hockey’s Future prospect criteria. (Courtesy of John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

The 2015-16 season has been quite noteworthy for the Buffalo Sabres and their prospects. After two consecutive seasons of languishing at the bottom of the standings, the team got an infusion of youth this season and have seen positive results. Read more»

Photo: With 8 points in eight points (2G, 6A) in 12 games, Brendan Guhle is on pace to surpass last year’s total of 32, despite missing seven games to an upper body injury. (Courtesy of Ben Nelms/Getty Images)

Though the Buffalo Sabres have graduated several prospects to Rochester of the AHL and have several more debuting at the collegiate level, there are still a handful of prospects plying their trade in the Canadian Hockey League during 2015-16, with four of the six playing in the WHL. Read more»

Photo: Vaclav Karabacek has managed 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 21 postseason games during his career in the QMJHL. (Courtesy of Francois Laplante/FreestylePhoto/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres have been stockpiling assets for the past few years, but this season the team will put all of those accumulated prospects to good use. The 2014-15 outfit was laden with veterans, allowing the youngsters in the system to continue to develop without being exposed to the losing that the Sabres had become accustomed to. Read more»

Photo: Jack Eichel, who will make the Buffalo Sabres as an 18-year-old, could be the most talented American hockey player in the history of the game. (Courtesy of Ken Andersen/NHLPA via Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres have quickly transitioned from a desperate, broken hockey club to one full of potential and promise—and not just because of Jack Eichel. After some daring moves by GM Tim Murray during the offseason, it’s clear that the team has made it a priority to ensure its young star is surrounded with talent as he grows into an elite franchise center.